Kevin G.

Verified review

We were extremely fortunate to have had Dade County Food Group cater our wedding last week. Not only did they provide us with EXCELLENT service during our event but Brian was by far the EASIEST, most DOWN-TO-EARTH caterer to work with in the days leading up to our wedding. He helped us execute the vision we had by working within our budget and providing us with useful strategies about event flow and advice about different plating options and ingredients. At the end of the day, Brian and his team at Dade County Food Group prepared the most DELICIOUS food we have ever had at a wedding. The food was even better than what we tried during the tasting (which didn't seem possible!). All of our guests couldn't stop raving about the food and most went up and got seconds. Even abuela! Our guests even chanted his name during the reception!!! That's unheard of!!! In addition to the unbelievably tasty food, Brian's staff (waiters, water servers, bus boys, bartenders, chefs, etc) were friendly and fun but maintained their professionalism. At the end of the reception, Brian and his staff worked quickly and efficiently to remove all their equipment from the venue and they even helped our families pick up. Heck, they even arrived 1 day before the wedding to help set up!
I know what you're thinking, "This sounds to good to be true." It's not. Brian and his team are thoughtful, honest, hard working, caring, and resourceful. And at the end of the day, they cook some REALLY REALLY REALLY GOOD FOOD. At the very least you should contact DCFG for your catering needs. I promise you won't be disappointed with them. I guarantee they will cook the BEST DAMN FOOD you have ever tried. And if you don't agree, then please send the food my way because I have been dying for another bite ever since our wedding day!

Adrienne W.

Verified review

Jeffrey was excellent! He worked with us on our lunch menu to accommodate the varying tastes of our meeting attendees. He showed up on time, had a very pleasant demeanor, and he cleaned up afterwards. Everyone commented on how good lunch was that we asked him to come back and prepare breakfast. Again, he was timely, brought everything he needed, cleaned up and breakfast was delicious. Thank you Jeffrey for making our two catered business meetings a positive and tasty experience! I highly recommend Jeffrey of Rosemary and Thyme Catering.
A.W.

Lori E.

Verified review

I could not have been more pleased with the service I received, from the initial phone call to Sara and Lorin, who were helpful in making a selection to stay within my budget. I was pleasantly surprised on multiple occasions, beginning with affordability, items included, the professionalism of the entire setup and display and let's not forget the taste. OMG! was a repeated comment from my guests. Plenty of food leftover to send home with the guests of honor and still have some for ourselves. I was not prepared for the covered serving units that were brought to my home rather than the disposable, open serving trays. They certainly made for an "Exquisite" display as well as keeping the food from drying out. Then there was the Antipasto... OMG! That was simply Picture Perfect! I so did not want to see it disturbed. :) Special thanks to Larry for his timeliness and his ability to maneuver through the guests that were arriving. Exquisite Catering will be my #1 choice for any future events and I will continue to share my superb experience with family & friends. Thanks to all AGAIN!

Elise A.

Verified review

Cant say enough good things about The Catering Group. We had a corporate event for Thanksgiving and all I can say is WOW. They were professional, friendly, on time and the food was SO GOOD. The entire office was raving about them so now we plan to hire them for many more events through out the year. Hire them -- you wont be disappointed!!!
Thank you guys!!!

Patricia C.

Verified review

I used Lori's catering services for a small get together and birthday party for about 30 people. Since I was a novice at party giving, Lori was very good about checking in with me along the way and making suggestions about both the menu and the setup. We had more than enough food which had been a particular worry of mine since I could not picture amounts. The party was for noon on a Sunday and I elected to do sort of a blend between a brunch and a lunch. In particular, the strata, mango salad and berry fruit salad were the most popular and I found that the dressings, sauces and spreads that accompanied the food were what added to the uniqueness of the ham, rolls and other salads. Everything was tasty and fresh. The delivery person was on time and helpful with food placement as it was a buffet style. The dishes were all set to go on platters and we supplied the serving utensils and beverages. I would certainly recommend Lori for whatever
occasion you might need these services.

Michelle G.

Verified review

This catering company is on a completely different level than its competitors! The quality of the service and food is absolutely amazing. If you want a unique experience, call Conscious Bite. Caterers will personalize their menu just for you while adding their own unique spin on your needs. If you want to have your guests talking about your event for years, you've found the right company! Hire them!

Kirsty G.

Verified review

Renee at Cafe Delish is amazing. Renee had great vision and exicution on the catered graduation party. My guests LOVED Renee's out goiong personality. The food, set up and clean up were all perfect. Thank you Cafe Delish for an amazing event.

Warren L.

Verified review

Chef O is the best! and I'm not one to hand out praise very freely. The food was on point and very well executed (we should have ordered even more :) even though we were very well fed), service and attention to detail was top notch, and we felt like we were dealing with an old friend and not just a chef for hire. You won't regret using these guys. Thanks again chef! We will be using you again real soon.

Gabe H.

Verified review

Hired them for a private party for about 4O people and was very impressed. Not only was the food excellent the presentation and service was also. Overall they were reasonably priced. I will definitely use them again for any other catering event and would highly recommend you do the same. Thank you first bite!

Sheri L.

Verified review

Rice Catering has consistently exceeded expectations. From events small to large, Rice Catering and Chef Wally delivers outstanding food and services. I would highly recommend Rice Catering for all your events -- large and small. Always delivering the highest quality.

Patty C.

Verified review

Hired the guys at Grenhouse for a last minute event that needed catering. They were a pleasure to work with. Communication with them was seamless and they responded promptly to my messages. I especially love that they brought “farm-to-table” in a food truck, which meant we didn’t have to deal with a crazy setup. I didn’t have to sacrifice quality for convenience. They even tried their best to accommodate some of my menu requests at the last minute. Oh, and the food is DELICIOUS. Definitely recommend.

rebekah k.

Ron E.

Verified review

Because of the outstanding quality of their food, friendliness and professionalism, I would recommend this cathering service to all my friends. They are certainly the best catering service around and their food is super delicious and very affordable.

Adam E.

Verified review

I had an excellent experience with Zest Kitchenz. They catered a business event for me, Michael was fantastic to work with, he listened closely to what I wanted and was very creative with the menu and delivered a great meal everyone enjoyed.

Michelle M.

Verified review

Joe was great to work with. He was on top of everything from start to finish. He was able to put the entire party together from the DJ, caterer, invites, photographer, decor, party favors, furniture, etc... I would highly recommend for any type of party.

Lauri D.

Verified review

I have worked with Culinary Solutions on a number of events over the years and their service has been quite good but since Shannon has taken over the role of Event Manager, the service has been outstanding. Her attention to detail, willingness to accomodate for her client is amazing. I would strongly urge anyone planning an event to call Shannon at Culinary Solutions either for an event at the Boynton Beach Womens Club or for an off premis party.

Q & A

Answers to commonly asked questions from the experts on Thumbtack.

How do you find a good caterer?

Reviews, interviews and menu tastings will help you find the right catering choice for your big day. Start by screening possible wedding caterers based on past reviews. If a caterer you are interested in has a review that concerns you, ask them about it; how they respond will be very telling. Next, ask about their availability for your wedding date.

If the wedding caterer is available on your date, it’s time to talk about menus and prices. Be clear about what your maximum budget is find out what choices this will allow you. Caterers may custom-create a menu for your event, or they may have menu templates within different price ranges that can guide your decision. A clear budget gives the caterer clear parameters within which to work and offer creative suggestions. Schedule a menu tasting to confirm you love your wedding menu. Once you have a menu and date, and have paid a deposit to reserve the caterer’s services, confirm additional details including when the food will be delivered to the site, what kind of service will be provided, how many servers will be onsite and for how long, and who is responsible for setup and cleanup. The more specific your contract, the fewer worries you’ll have on your wedding day. Get more smart hiring tips here.

Do you tip a wedding caterer?

Tipping 15 percent to 20 percent on a $3,000 catering bill can feel daunting — especially in light of all the other costs of throwing a wedding — but tipping your wedding caterer is standard practice. Be sure to ask your caterer about their specific policies. Many catering companies include gratuity as a line item on their bill. If tipping is not automatically included in your total, a good approach is to tip all the people involved the day of the event rather than paying one lump sum to the catering company. For each server and bartender, you can tip $20-$50, depending on how long they were onsite and whether they did exceptional work. You can also tip the chef; experts suggest $50. It’s also a good idea to tip the catering manager, the point-of-contact person who keeps the catering service running smoothly the day of your wedding, ensures all the food looks beautiful and is plentiful, and resolves any mishaps. Industry pros recommend tipping the catering manager $100-$200. If gratuity is not included and you’re tipping individuals, set aside $200-$500 in cash to be safe.

How much does wedding catering cost per person?

Wedding catering costs will always vary based on the number of guests you’re inviting, the menu you want to serve, and the way the food will be served to your guests. As you interview wedding catering companies, you’ll be presented with a cost per person for various menus. On the low end, wedding catering may cost approximately $15-$18 per person. This would include prepared food only, with no setup or service of any kind. The starting price for a simple buffet meal with minimal service typically averages $22 per person. Opting for the same menu with all organic ingredients could raise your costs to about $33 per person. A moderately upscale menu (finer ingredients, more elaborate presentation) could range from $24 to $34 per person. High-end wedding catering cost truly has no limit. Lobster, filet mignon, specialty seafood, organic ingredients — menu choices like these can boost your cost per person up to $150 and more.

How much does it cost to hire a caterer?

Catering prices depend mainly on how fancy you want the food and service to be and how many guests you’ll have. When you’re first looking to hire a caterer for your event, consider how many guests you’ll have and your total food and drink budget. The national average for event catering is $340, but catering prices can range into the thousands depending on your menu, guest count, and service.

Event catering is a broad term that covers everything from fully prepared, ready-to-eat food that the hosts plate and serve themselves to full-service, multicourse meals, including rental of linens, glassware and other items, with service staff organized by the catering company. Usually a caterer will determine cost based on the type of event you’re having, how many guests will attend, the level of service you desire, and what type of menu you’d like to have. For example, if you have a set catering budget, say $1,500, and you plan to have 50 people attend, that means you have $30 per person for food. If you have the same budget with 100 people, you have $15 per person for food. In this way, the number of people you want to attend your event and the level of food you want to serve them determines how much catering will cost.

What should you look for in a caterer?

A delicious meal is a critical element of a successful wedding, with happy guests fondly remembering your fabulous wedding food. The right caterer for you will be:

Available: Even the best caterer is no good if they aren’t available on your wedding date. Ask early before you get your heart set on someone.

Affordable for you: Find a caterer that you can afford. Having a spending plan ahead of time will mean you won’t overspend on food.

A good personality fit: Wedding planning is stressful, so work with someone that you can get along with and communicate with easily.

Experienced and recommended: Ensure the company has a proven track record with events of your size and the references to back it up.

Transparent about money: Steer clear of shady pricing. Find a caterer who is very clear about costs and is happy to talk you through budgets and pricing options.

Transparent about food: Find someone who is clear about where they source their food from and where it is prepared.